Aldershot
The EBB Stadium (The Rec)
Capacity 7,100
Address The EBB Stadium, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1TW
Ticket prices £17.00 entrance fee to stand.
www.theshots.co.uk
The Recreation Ground stadium was built back in the 1920′s and is home to Aldershot Town FC. The ground is located right in the middle of Aldershot, just off the high street in the town centre. A train line runs behind the South side of the ground and it is well known that the travelling supporters face a long walk to the away end, where they have to negotiate a wonder through a park and some stairs before finally reaching the turnstiles.
The ground only has 3 sides. The west side, which backs onto the High Street and front entrance of the ground, is an open end which just has a path running along it as well as a fence. This is mostly used for advertising. The opposite end (East Bank) is where the away supporters are situated. Half of the stand is given to home supporters and this is where the more vocal Shots fans congregate. Away supporters are given the other half and a bit of the terracing on the South side. The stand on the East Bank is quite an old fashioned structure, but gives out a good atmosphere.
The main stand is on the North side of the ground. It’s a small stand that was built in the 1930′s and is made up of seats and terracing. The ground’s entrance and changing rooms are behind this stand. On the opposite side is the South Stand. It is another small, old fashioned stand that straddles the half-way line. This stand also has the press box as well as the TV gantry.
I’ve been to Aldershot a couple of times now, both in the League and Non-League. It has never really changed since my first visit back in 2001. Last time I went there I got parked in the pay & display car park on Ordnance Road. It was quite reasonable and was easy to get out of at the end. As for getting something to eat, there was a burger van in the away end last time I visited and it had a good range of food. It’s not one of the best grounds that you’ll ever go to, but if you like old fashioned grounds then it is worth a visit.
Getting to Aldershot
By car
Sat Nav reference: GU11 1TW
Stevenage to Aldershot is one of the more straight forward journeys, even though the M25 can be a complete lottery as to whether it takes you just over an hour or nearly 3 to get there or not. Leave Stevenage at junction 7 of the A1(M) and get down to the M25 via your preferred route. Go counter clockwise (towards Heathrow) before exiting the M25 at junction 12. Stay in the right hand lane on the slip road and merge onto the M3 going towards Southampton.
Leave the M3 and junction 4 and head on to the A331 signposted Aldershot/Farnborough. Exit the A331 onto the A323 (Aldershot). Take the 3rd exit at the roundabout on Ash Road (A323). This road becomes the High Street. Follow it down for a mile or two and the ground will be on your right after the railway bridge.
By train
Aldershot station is served by South West Trains. To get there from Stevenage, get down to London Kings Cross and then from there get to London Waterloo. Trains go to Aldershot from Waterloo and take approximately just under an hour. The ground is not far away from the station at all. Leave the station and turn right onto Arthur Street. At the end of Arthur Street, turn right onto Victoria Road and then left onto the High Street. The ground will be straight ahead of you at the end of the road.
